Jakarta (ANTARA) - Special adviser to Jakarta's governor on social communications Chico Hakim said smoke from forest and land fires over the capital had begun to recede on Friday, October 16, but warned residents to remain alert for changes in wind direction.
“The smoke has decreased since Friday because of the wind, but we remain alert if wind direction changes,” Chico said in a text message on Monday.
The Jakarta administration is strengthening preparedness and mitigation measures following reports of wildfire smoke in the upper atmosphere over Greater Jakarta, he said.
Chico said satellite images from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) showed smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan passing high above Jakarta and surrounding areas on Friday, October 16.
“The smoke was several kilometers above the surface and did not necessarily directly affect the air quality people breathe,” he said.
The latest monitoring shows the smoke moving away from western Java, including Greater Jakarta, as wind patterns shift.
The provincial government remains alert because Jakarta's air quality is also affected by local sources, including transportation and industrial emissions, as well as dry-season conditions.
Chico said some Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) monitoring stations in Jakarta still recorded moderate to unhealthy levels, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) the main concern.
“Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has ordered health facilities to remain fully prepared. A total of 367 facilities are on standby for respiratory illnesses, including acute respiratory infections: 31 hospitals, 44 community health centers, and 292 auxiliary health centers,” Chico said.
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Translator: Lifia MP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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